Only 5 in 253! Matches MS Dhoni has missed for CSK in IPL

MS Dhoni volition miss Chennai Super Kings' (CSK) IPL 2026 opener against Rajasthan Royals (RR) connected Monday successful Guwahati, marking a uncommon lack for the wicketkeeper-batter who has been a changeless beingness for the squad implicit the years.Dhoni has agelong been cardinal to CSK arsenic captain, finisher and wicketkeeper, but this lucifer astatine the Baraspara Cricket Stadium volition spell up without him. His lack brings absorption connected the past clip helium missed a crippled and however often helium has been unavailable since the IPL began successful 2008.The past clip Dhoni did not diagnostic successful a CSK lucifer successful IPL was during the 2019 season. He missed the April 26 crippled against Mumbai Indians astatine the M A Chidambaram Stadium owed to fever, with Suresh Raina starring the side.

He besides sat retired a lucifer earlier that play against Sunrisers Hyderabad connected April 17 owed to a backmost spasm.Across his IPL career, Dhoni has missed lone 5 matches. Monday's fixture volition lone beryllium the sixth lawsuit of Dhoni missing an IPL lucifer for CSK. The Chennai Super Kings (CSK) person played 253 full matches successful the Indian Premier League (spanning 2008–2025). Three of those came successful the 2010 play — against Delhi Daredevils successful Delhi, Kings XI Punjab successful Chennai, and Royal Challengers Bengaluru successful Bengaluru.

Dhoni’s 5 anterior misses were highly sparse and dispersed crossed astir a decade:2010 play (three matches):

2019 play (two matches):

Since 2020, Dhoni has played each lucifer helium was disposable for, including starring CSK to titles successful 2021 and 2023. He besides featured successful each 14 matches during the 2025 season. The lone spread successful his IPL information came during the 2016 and 2017 seasons erstwhile CSK were suspended and helium played for Rising Pune Supergiant.The 44-year-old is presently dealing with a calf wounded and is expected to beryllium unavailable astatine slightest until mid-April, though a instrumentality aboriginal successful the period remains possible.With 278 appearances, Dhoni is the most-capped subordinate successful IPL history, and helium has led a broadside successful 235 matches, the astir by immoderate captain. His lack leaves a younger CSK broadside without 1 of its astir experienced players.